Great Walks of Fiordland - Ponga - Gate 7
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Ponga
Great Walks of Fiordland
AUD $3999/pp
4 Days 14 People Max Hiking Activity Level 2-3
Explore Fiordland National Park by ticking sections of the Milford, Kepler and
Routeburn Tracks, and cruise Doubtful and Milford Sounds
Queenstown to Queenstown
This is a bucket list hiking trip where you need not forego any creature comforts. From the lush forest of the Milford Track, to standing at
the top of the Great Divide, separating east and west flowing rivers on the Routeburn Track, and the ancient Beech forest on the Kepler
Track, you’ll sample the best of the Great Walks, along with cruising both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound. All of these walks are located
in the Fiordland National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage area with mystical coves and dense temperate rainforest.
Page 1 / 6Highlights
Hike
Kepler Track
Routeburn Track
Milford Track
Cruise
Doubtful Sound
Milford Sound
Explore
Takahe Bird Park
Lake Te Anau
Our Active Adventures Assurance
We value loyalty, and appreciate that it goes both ways. So when you book with us we'll make
a few assurances to you so you can book with complete confidence, no matter what's
happening in your life (or the world).
COVID-Ready Certified: Safe Travel for our Guests Travelling Overseas
Active Adventures has received the World Travel and Tourism Council's Safe Travels stamp,
which guarantees you that we'll follow all ATTA and WTTC health and safety guidelines on all
our trips. See how our small group, off-the-beaten-track adventures are perfect to start
exploring again.
Page 2 / 6Ponga ~ Itinerary
DA Y 1
Arrive Queenstown, Hike Kepler Track
For the first day of your trip we’ll meet you in Queenstown and get straight on the road to head to Te Anau where we'll tick off our first
Great Walk for this adventure - the Kepler Track. Interestingly, the Kepler Track differs from the Routeburn and Milford Tracks in that it
didn’t actually evolve from a Maori greenstone trail, but was custom-built for hiking. The section we’ll hike today passes over the control
gates at the outlet of Lake Te Anau and meanders through ancient beech and podocarp forest. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a tasty lunch before
heading back around the lake to the Department of Conservation birdlife park in Te Anau. The centre takes care of injured or ageing birds
which would struggle to survive in the wild - it’s a great opportunity to see some of our rarest birds up close, so don’t forget your camera!
We'll make our way to our accommodation for the next three nights, Matai Lodge, and enjoy the scenery and the delicious local fare.
Matai Lodge, Te Anau (Lunch & Dinner)
Hiking Distance: 9.5 kilometres (6 miles), 2-3 hours
Elevation Gain: 50 metres (165 feet)
Elevation Loss: 50 metres (165 feet)
DA Y 2
Cruise Lake Manapouri & Doubtful Sound
Today we’ll take the day to explore the lesser-known sound in Fiordland, Doubtful Sound! There’s no direct road access, so we’ll board a
boat for the cruise across Lake Manapouri, before a drive over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove - New Zealand's most expensive (and majestic)
road. We’ll pause along the way to experience the dense Fiordland rainforest and view Doubtful Sound glistening below. This isolation
makes this fiord a very special place, only those in the know get to see.
Doubtful Sound is a large and remote wilderness area, and once we arrive, we'll board the boat for a 3-hour cruise on the sound - a
spectacular pristine fiord. During the cruise, knowledgeable and friendly nature guides will share with us their passion for the region.
They’re always ready to answer questions, point out landmarks and provide all the information about the varied wildlife we may see,
including dolphins, fur seals and the rare Fiordland crested penguin! We'll make our way back to Te Anau the same way we came so have
your camera ready in case you missed any great shots!
Matai Lodge, Te Anau (All meals)
Cruise Time: 3 hours
DA Y 3
Cruise Milford Sound, Hike Routeburn Track
This morning we’ll take a drive into Milford Sound, checking out a few of our favourite viewpoints along the way in Eglinton Valley. We'll
continue on through the Homer Tunnel to emerge at the top of a spectacular glacier-carved valley for a memorable descent to the shore of
Milford Sound (actually it’s a fiord!). Rudyard Kipling rated Milford the eighth natural wonder of the world and it’s truly breath-taking, with
steep granite walls plunging over a thousand metres to the Tasman Sea and waterfalls cascading into deep inky water. When we arrive at
Milford Sound we’ll relax on the deck of a ship, cruising the dark, deep waters of the fiord in the hands of a knowledgeable captain and the
nature guides on board. We’ll marvel at the majesty of Mitre Peak - so named for its likeness to a Bishop’s hat - and get up close and
personal with several waterfalls! The landscape here looks superimposed because of the sheer scale of your surroundings.
After our cruise and some lunch, we’ll drive back to the Divide, where we’ll hike part of the Routeburn Track, the second of the Great Walks
you’ll experience. We hike through beech forest, sub-alpine shrubland and picturesque alpine tarns, before reaching Key Summit. Here
you’ll be standing at the head of three different valleys (the Hollyford, Eglinton and Greenstone), with stunning views over the Great
Divide, which separates west and east-flowing rivers. This is an out and backtrack, so we’ll retrace our steps back to the bus and to Te
Page 3 / 6Anau for our last night together!
Matai Lodge, Te Anau (All meals)
Hiking Distance: 3.4 kilometres (2 miles), 3-4 hours
Elevation Gain: 380 metres (1,246 feet)
Elevation Loss: 380 metres (1,246 feet)
DA Y 4
Cruise Lake Te Anau, Hike Milford Track, farewell!
After our last breakfast together we'll set off for our hike on the Milford Track. Wild, tempestuous, and ruggedly beautiful – all of these
words describe the Milford Track during this time of year, and the track’s famous waterfalls, forests and mountain views come alive in vivid
blues, greens and snowy whites. We'll take a boat ride across Lake Te Anau to Glade Wharf and set off on the trail, with our turnaround
point being Glade House. Take a minute to soak in the scenery at the wharf at the mouth of Clinton River surrounded by mountains more
than 3,000 feet taller than the lake. As we walk, we'll enjoy birdsong from resident grey warblers, bellbirds, even tui, and perhaps enjoy a
visit from friendly fantails and curious robins. The forest will recede and we'll reach a meadow with Clinton River to the left and Glade
House right in the middle—with rewarding views all around.
After our time on the Milford Track we'll boat back to Te Anau and begin our journey home – refreshed and renewed by a shared
appreciation for the truly great outdoors. We’ll arrive back in Queenstown in the early evening when our trip ends. Your guides will be able
to make recommendations for dinner if you’re dining out tonight.
(Breakfast, Lunch)
Hiking Distance: 2.6 kilometres (1.6 miles), 2-3 hours
Elevation Gain: 50 metres (160 feet)
Elevation Loss: 50 metres (160 feet)
Useful Info
Do you charge a forced single supplement if I'm a solo traveller?
Most other travel companies charge all solo travellers a single supplement fee. We don't! When it comes to accommodation, our
trip fares are based on a twin-share rate, which means we'll match you up with another person of the same gender to share a
room with. If there's no one suitable to share with, there's no forced single supplement! Having said that, if you specifically
request your own room, you can opt to pay the additional single supplement fee.
What's the maximum group size on this trip?
This trip has a maximum of 14 guests, plus two experienced guides.
Where does the trip start?
On the first day of the trip we can either pick you up at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 10am from the Queenstown airport (ZQN) in
front of the Travel and Information Centre at 10.30am.
Page 4 / 6Where does the trip end?
Your trip ends back in Queenstown and we'll drop you at the Queenstown Airport for flight times listed below, or in Queenstown
central at around 6pm.
What flights would you recommend?
Arrival: If you're flying in on the first day of the trip, we recommend arriving in Queenstown before 9am.
Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, we recommend departing from Queenstown after 7pm for domestic and 8pm for
international departures times.
Page 5 / 6General Trip Information
You can find details on recommended flights and fitness, as well as trip start and end in the 'Useful Information' section above.
Availability Accommodation
Once a trip is full, we’ll often add a second departure that You’ll love the interesting places we’ve discovered over the
travels in a different direction (southbound or northbound, years. You’ll visit really spectacular and off-the-beaten-track
referring to your direction of travel upon departure), to ensure locations and stay in comfortable bed and breakfasts, lodges,
the highest level of service on all of our trips and to keep our apartments and hotels for the most part. Keep in mind that
group sizes small. Both trip directions include all the activities the most remote locations have limited accommodation
mentioned, just in a different order, and they work whichever options, but 5-star scenery!
direction you go.
Transportation Outdoor Experience
Since New Zealand isn’t quite small enough to simply walk Our trips allow you to make the most of the New Zealand
everywhere and still see all the highlights in a limited amount backcountry, whether you’re relatively new to hiking or a
of time, we travel in fuel-efficient 20-seat Toyota Coasters and seasoned trekker. Our highly trained and experienced guides
our guides make the journey enjoyable. They’ll introduce you will be at your side, safely guiding you to magnificent places
to some local tunes as well as provide interesting commentary, that you wouldn’t get to on your own. The challenges are
and we pass the time you do spend on the road in a fun, social there, if you’re looking for them, and all we ask is that you be
way, with New Zealand’s ever-changing scenery providing a energetic and in reasonable shape and we guarantee you’ll
feast for the eyes. Our focus, as always, is getting you out of have an incredible time. You don’t have to have been
the vehicle and into the scenery. kayaking to enjoy paddling out on the water and you don’t
need to be a serious cyclist to enjoy most of the rides we do.
In fact, we have so many options available that you don’t
need to ride or paddle at all if you’d rather hike or just laze
around!
We hold all relevant government licenses and permits, have
an impeccable safety record and are certified by
OutdoorsMark, New Zealand’s leading outdoor safety auditors.
So, with all the research, logistics, safety and hospitality taken
care of, you can focus on the most important thing – making
the most of your vacation!
Included Not Included
The fare includes just about everything, specifically: The trip fare doesn’t include flights before or after your trip, or
• All guiding services. We have two guides per trip, a lead 15% NZ government tax. This is your all-inclusive vacation
guide/driver and a co-guide/chef. On our smallest trips, one of and there are no hidden costs. You’ll have a few meals and
our most experienced guides will look after you. drinks to cover, extra activities if you choose them, and you’ll
• Comfortable accommodation for the entire period you are probably feel like tipping your guides at the end of a fabulous
with us. We can also organise pre and post-trip trip, though you won’t need to pull out your wallet every few
accommodation, if you like. minutes on your Active Adventures trip!
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner on most days, as indicated, with
many delicious meals prepared by your guides, who are adept
at catering for all dietary requirements. In places like
Queenstown and Auckland there’s a wide variety of
restaurants and we’ve found people prefer to check out the
options on their own. Alcohol is not included, although we do
spring a few drinks here and there!
• All activities described in the itineraries including hiking,
kayaking, biking and rafting, except the optional extra
activities that are available at additional cost.
• All transportation from trip start to end.
• The highest level of service from our guides and from our
experienced team behind the scenes. We’re always here for
you and we always go the extra mile!
Flexibility Itinerary Updates
We’re really flexible and none of our itineraries are written in We update our itineraries annually, so please check our
stone, so if you have a particular interest you’d like to include website for the most up-to-date itineraries and pricing. We
or you need to leave a trip earlier or join later (at an altered make every effort to ensure itinerary accuracy at the time of
fare), just let us know and we can almost always make it printing, though changes may occur without prior notice due
happen. Likewise, all adventure travel requires a certain to local circumstances.
amount of flexibility and we sometimes have to make minor
changes to the accommodation or activities because of
weather and availability, but we have plenty of options up our
sleeve and the experience to keep your trip running
seamlessly.
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